Images from Haiti

Home safe and sound

The Haiti team is home. The Haiti team is transformed. The Haiti team has new friends worlds and miles away. Marguerite. Esther. Mckenzle. Alexis. Valentine. Pastor Holland. Jorell. Joseph. And many others whose names will come to me in the next days. Special thanks to you for your support - donations, money, prayers, love. Deep gratitude to Scott Goodwin and Bob Seitz for their passion, leadership, and care- filled guidance the entire week. Mission trips to Haiti are about building and nurturing relationships with the people of Pasquette. We are doing that. Our friendships will continue to grow. The next trip to Haiti is in late January, 2014. Are you called to go? Thanks be to God. Amen.

God is like a chicken mother...

Today was a long one, and for me the most difficult. We said good bye to many people - our gracious host at our hotel in Jacmel; our new friends in Pasquette; and perhaps the most difficult of all - we said good bye to Joseph - one of our translators. Joseph invited us to his home in a tent city in Port-Au-Prince. We gave each other big hugs, thanked Joseph profusely, and had a quiet ride to our lovely hotel. The contrasts in Haiti are drastic and we are all processing. This morning, Pastor Holland, of Redemption Lutheran Church in Pasquette, blessed our journey with these words: "God is like a chicken mother, keeping track of his flock.although there are different nationalities there are no foreigners. We are all brothers and sisters and we are always together even if you are far away from the ocean." Indeed. We are all brothers and sisters- people who live in huts in Pasquette, tents in Port-Au Prince, and homes in the USA. A world of contrasts - and a God of Love for all. See you tomorrow.

Mission Accomplished

Mission accomplished. 12 benches ready for sitting on - all of them were used today by the 80+ patients, their families and friends at the medical clinic. Kids Club is done and 160+ kids played and ate with your generous support. In two days time, nearly 200 people were given kind, compassionate medical care and much comfort was provided through conversations, generous and careful listening, antibiotics, vitamins, stomach medicine, Tylenol, and Ibuprofen. Our team is filled up and eager to share our impressions and stories of this beautiful country with all of you. Tomorrow we say good bye to our friends in Pasquette before traveling over the mountains to Port - Au - Prince. We are scheduled to arrive in MPLS on Sunday night at 10:30. Peace. Out.

Lizards, Coconut Milk, Worms, and Pre-Trip Travel Clinic Visits

The past two days have been eventful in Jacmel and Pasquette. The bench project is going well - 3 are complete! We had our first day of clinic today and Dr. Ingrid and the medical team treated 96 people. So many of the little ones have worms and we miraculously had enough medicine for all of them. At the end of the day we were treated to fresh coconut milk and meat. The milk is tangy! The meat is rather bland. None of it even resembles what you find in a grocery store in a plastic bag. And, lizards are abundant and friendly! One final note - almost everyone on our team is grateful for our prescriptions from the travel clinic. Those of us who have used them are all on the mend. :) One more day in the clinic tomorrow. We are thankful for our team, to our Haitian friends- most especially, our wonderful translators - Jorelle, Alan, and Joseph - and our hotel staff is also the best- kind and gracious. Peace. Out.

If you're happy and you know it...

Today was our first full day in Pasquette and the people of that community worked with us all day. Together we cut wood for 12 benches, sang - told stories - played games - and colored with 140 kiddos. The women of Pasquette made lunch for all the kids, and we were all grateful for the church space. It kept the sun off of us and was the perfect space for all out activities. In the afternoon, we met with the church leaders to begin conversations about how to manage the well. Trust is abundant and we are moving forward together. My favorite part of the day was watching Charel, a man in school to become a teacher, sing If You're Happy and You Know It with 140 kids for at least 40 minutes. They love him and sang very enthusiastically for us all. A good day. Thunder has been threatening - would be great to experience a tropical thunderstorm. Peace. Out.

Eyes Wide Open. Drinking it in.

Your Haiti Team is working in Pasquette. We have two wonderful Haitian men with us, and a driver. We are all safe and sound and having brand new experiences every day. My son gave me advice before I left - keep your eyes wide open and drink it all in. We are doing just that. What follows are some of my impressions. Bright colors everywhere - cars, buildings, flowers, clothing. Minnesotans, North Dakotans, Oregonians, and Haitians working together to decide to build benches with backs and eventually kneelers,for the church. All of us working together to decide to have 3 days of Kid's Club, 1.5 days of Clinic, and 4 days of cooking lunch together for the 100+ kiddos who will play with us in Pasquette. The country is beautiful, with high mountains, vistas of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean, and trees dripping with mangos, coconuts, and almonds. We are trying new foods, like spicy peanut butter, fresh mango juice, and coleslaw laced with habanero peppers.. We have a lot of work to do - a lot of new friends to make, some Creole phrases to master, and - of course - Jesus' love to share. We are among friends - that is clear. The members of our team who have been here before we're greeted by name with a hug. It is good. We are drinking it in and being transformed. As always, thank you for your support, love and prayers.

Good Morning!

We are on our way. A little bleary-eyed, but really excited about the adventure ahead. Thank you for your love, prayers, and support.

Standing on Holy ground

"Remove the sandals from your feet for the place you are standing is Holy Ground"

                                                                                                               Exodus 3:1-5

With departure set for Sunday Morning, O' dark- thirty, it seems like going on mission is all about lists, getting things done, arranging for stuff, shopping for stuff, worrying about details. I need to remember that God has called me, and set me on this path. He will remind me of what I need to do but I serve at his pleasure and direction.  Its not about the stuff, its about a chance to stand before Him on holy ground once again. I pray I remember to take time to talk to him Him in all the detail of getting ready. I pray my eyes are open to see Him in my teammates, in His miracles, and in His children in Haiti. Thank you God for calling me. I'll do my best.

Prayers for the road!

Our team leaves for Haiti this weekend, please continue to keep them and the community that they are working with in your prayers!

Team members:

• Arlene Flancher
• Chris Morton
• Andrew Morton
• Steve Stromsness
• Christian Stromsness
• Micah Vandersteen
• Bob Seitz
• Scott Goodwin
• Julia Goodwin
• Ingrid Flanders
• Leah Jache

 The team will be in Haiti from June 9 through June 16.  Thank you for supporting this important ministry!